Police arrest career burglar in Montgomery County

WASHINGTON – Montgomery County police have arrested a suspect they say is responsible for at least 10 burglaries in at least three cities.

Police did not release the suspect’s name, but say the arrest will allow officers to close out burglary investigations in Bethesda, Rockville, Silver Spring, and potentially some outside of the county.

“We did take a career guy off the street recently,” says Capt. David Falcinelli, commander of the department’s Bethesda district. “He was from outside of Montgomery County, plying his trade in Montgomery County, which we find unacceptable.”

Falcinelli says district detectives have made nine burglary arrests and obtained warrants for two others during the past month. The collars come as the Bethesda district saw 25 burglaries in November and 26 in December — numbers Falcinelli says are unwelcome but “not hugely out of the realm.”

The captain says technology has played a key role for detectives working the burglary cases. In some instances, private security cameras at residents’ homes have captured footage of suspects and their vehicles.

Falcinelli says homeowners can help prevent burglaries before they happen by taking several precautions. For example, before leaving on vacation, he recommends putting lights on timers, enlisting a neighbor to collect the mail and closing window blinds.

Burglars “know when you’re gone,” he says. “What it does, it makes you an easy victim.”